Advantages: Amazing pictures Disadvantages: Heavy when above water
...fish and the clear blue sea waters made taking a picture much easier. I did catch a glimpse of a dolphin or two but I didn't have the camera at that point!
I would highly recommend this one if you are needing it when Scuba Diving. I really have no idea how mcuh the camera would have cost the person I borrowed it from and I have tried to search for a price but have found it is no longer available. If you are still interested in it, there are diving ...
Advantages: A great camera for someone to just jump in the water and have a go with Disadvantages: You will outgrow the camera especially if you move beyong the novice level
This was the first underwater camera I bought, and I did so at a time when I actually knew nothing about underwater photography, but just had an urge to go and do it. The MX10 in my opinion turned out to be a great camera for someone like myself who knew very little about the subject. It's easy to use and the only thing you have to remember with the camera (like any other underwater photography is to get as close to your subject as possible), is ... ...Then it's just a case of pointing and shooting. I took the MX10 with me to Eygpt, States and the far East, and it's light enough to keep in your hand luggage.
The next great thing about the MX10 is that not only is it easy to use and light to carry around, but you can buy a variety of lenses for Macro and Micro photography, so as you get used to the camera and want to experiment the opportunity is there. For example the first lens I bought was a ...
Advantages: Cheaper than throwaways - and it goes deeper Disadvantages: Rangefinding! Needs a strobe
The Sea & Sea Motormarine II EX (also known as the Seamaster Pro) is a fairly simple underwater rangefinder camera.
It is depth rated to 45m, has a maximum shutter speed of 1/125 and uses 35mm film (DX coded). It has a built in flash - which I have to say is of no use underwater (the flash is so close to the axis of the lens that it illuminates any suspended debris in the water, causing a snowstorm look...). However, it is useful on land & around ... ...6 months ago to take to the Carribean for some snorkelling & diving, and found it excellent. The quality of some of the shots really astonished me - as a novice user, I didn't expect to get anything like the number of good shots (IMO) that I did. Trying to judge distances underwater is tricky at best, so I tended to work with a small aperture to give myself the best chance of getting things in focus. Worked surprisingly well.
The strobe (YS60) that ...
Advantages: Very little to go wrong, takes std 35mm film Disadvantages: Could be cheaper!
The MX5 (the Sea & Sea MX5, that is, not the Mazda) is a basic waterproof camera of the happy snapper variety. Depth resistant to 36m, it has a natty flip-up sportfinder/lens cover, built in flash and uses 35mm film. This camera is not aimed at the serious underwater photography crowd - it really is just a housed inexpensive 35mm camera. However, it is a nice bit of kit if you don't ask too much of it!
There is no focussing to worry about (fixed ... ...and it is capable of taking some pretty good shots in shallow water.
The onboard flash really shouldn't be used underwater, as backscatter will show up rather a lot and bleach out your images.
I looked at buying one, but decided after much playing about with it that given my delusions of taking the odd semi-professional looking shot, I'd go for the MMII instead. ...
Beautiful design, satisfying build. (*)
